CATTLE MARKETS
Myth: The Checkoff isn’t doing anything to fix the broken cattle markets.
Fact: Meatpacking capacity and other economic factors impact today’s cattle markets — but that’s completely outside the scope of the Beef Checkoff. The Checkoff was created to increase demand for beef and not to play favorites or influence markets. It has no power to increase the price of cattle. By helping generate greater demand, though, consumers will pick beef over other proteins and be willing to pay more for beef and beef products.
HIT THE ROAD, CHUCK
Myth: The Beef Checkoff isn’t doing much to get U.S.-produced beef into foreign markets.
Fact: Au contraire! The Checkoff has contracted with the U.S. Meat Export Federation for decades to put U.S.-produced beef on the world’s table. U.S. beef exports greatly exceeded previous volume and value records in 2021, surpassing $10 billion for the first time, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). And since many foreign markets desire underutilized cuts like tongue and liver, exporting those increases the overall carcass value.
IF I ONLY HAD A $1.00, OR $11.91
Myth: I pay $1.00 per head, and I never see that money back in my pocket.
Fact: According to the National Beef Checkoff Return on Investment study, for every $1.00 invested from 2014 to 2018, $11.91 was returned to the beef industry. Additionally, had there not been any domestic Cattlemen’s Beef Board demand-enhancing activities over the latest 5-year period, total domestic beef demand would have been 14.3% lower than actual demand. Read the Return on Investment Report here: beefboard.org/return-on-investment
All that to say, your $1.00 matters.
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER…
Myth: As usual, another year has come and gone, and producers have no idea what the Cattlemen’s Beef Board spent our Checkoff dollars on.
Fact: Beef Board meetings are open to those who pay into the Checkoff, and the CBB’s website, DrivingDemandForBeef.com, is transparent about how funding decisions are made, current programs and their budgets, the producer-led Checkoff Program Committees that review and provide input on the programs, the most recent Annual and Evaluation Reports, audited financials, and more. Plus, you can sign up for a complimentary subscription to The Drive for updates about how your Checkoff dollars are invested.